Juan Ameen
Church 'not doing enough' to strengthen marriage
A Dutch theology and marriage expert yesterday told a conference that the Church in Malta is not doing enough to contribute to stronger marriages.
Speaking at a conference on the future of marriage and the family organised by Proġettimpenn, Aldegonde Brennickmeiher said the Church should channel more energy into helping married couples strengthen their bond as the absence of a divorce law was not enough to keep separation at bay.
She said people were not currently prepared for the demands of marriage. "Marriage is not sailing into a safe harbour but leaving that safe place and sailing out into a storm," she said.
In the first 10 years, couples would be too taken up by their careers and their children to focus more deeply on their marriage. Couples constantly had to search and work towards keeping their marriage fresh, she said.
However, working on keeping a marriage safe and strong paid off - not only for the couple but also for society. Studies have shown that married couples live longer, earn more money and have a higher standard of living when compared with single, divorced people or cohabiting couples, she said.
Theologian Emmanuel Agius, who also spoke during the conference, linked the set goals listed in the Lisbon Agenda with the concept of solidarity.
Fr Agius said the breakdown of families would lead to a social breakdown and that the Church should also offer assistance to these couples.
He also lamented the low take-up of the newly introduced Masters degree in Family Ministry at the Faculty of Theology after only 10 people applied.
Fr Aguis said more people were needed from different professions so that they could be involved in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
3 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Anthony Roberts
Oct 18th 2009, 19:31
Where I came from in the UK, despite the low number of priests,it was the most natural thing for the Parish Priest to knock on the door and to be invited in. If there were problems in the home there he would be to listen and to advise. He became the family friend, someone one could confide in.
Emanuel Cilia debono
Oct 18th 2009, 16:07
I have read the article in the UK Sunday Times quoted by Paul Barett . It is indeed interesting but not at all edifying.
The U.K. Sunday Times writer implies that marriage is nothing better than an economic commodity with a life span of 20-25 years. The duration of marriage -the writer suggests - may be subject to the Economic Law of Diminishing Returns. That is definitely not a happy view of the institution of marriage. nor is it at all natural .
Indeed the same writer concedes that short marriage duration is a ( sad) feature of present day ( materialistic) society. To give up to present day social and economic threats to successful marriage reveals a defeatist attitude. However, without losing sight of the real present day threats the Catholic Church strongly appeals for focus on the non economic elements that make a marriage last a lifetime.
The Dutch theologian could not have had any other scenario in view.
Paul Barrett
Oct 18th 2009, 14:55
An article in the UK Sunday Times may be of interest to some readers - certainly it may throw a different light on the explosion in separations and the current pressure to legalise divorce.
In summary, life and life expectancy have changed but the basic promise of "to death do us part" has not. An easy promise when life expectancy after marriage was a short eleven years but slightly more difficult with life expectancy after marriage now running in the 40+ years
The article is at : http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article6879554.ece